EGTA (ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid), also known as egtazic acid (INN, USAN),^[2] is an aminopolycarboxylic acid, a chelating agent. It is a white solid that is related to the better known EDTA. Compared to EDTA, it has a lower affinity for magnesium, making it more selective for calcium ions. It is useful in buffer solutions that resemble the environment in living cells^[3] where calcium ions are usually at least a thousandfold less concentrated than magnesium.

Quick Facts Names, Identifiers ...

EGTA

Names
Preferred IUPAC name 3,12-Bis(carboxymethyl)-6,9-dioxa-3,12-diazatetradecane-1,14-dioic acid
Other names Triethylene glycol diamine tetraacetic acid
Identifiers
CAS Number	67-42-5 (free acid) Y 13368-13-3 (tetrasodium salt) N
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:30740 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL240390 Y
ChemSpider	5972 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.000.592
KEGG	D00569 Y
PubChem CID	6207
UNII	526U7A2651 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID2045151
InChI InChI=1S/C14H24N2O10/c17-11(18)7-15(8-12(19)20)1-3-25-5-6-26-4-2-16(9-13(21)22)10-14(23)24/h1-10H2,(H,17,18)(H,19,20)(H,21,22)(H,23,24) Y Key: DEFVIWRASFVYLL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C10H13NO2/c1-3-13-10-6-4-9(5-7-10)11-8(2)12/h4-7H,3H2,1-2H3,(H,11,12) Key: CPJSUEIXXCENMM-UHFFFAOYAO InChI=1/C14H24N2O10/c17-11(18)7-15(8-12(19)20)1-3-25-5-6-26-4-2-16(9-13(21)22)10-14(23)24/h1-10H2,(H,17,18)(H,19,20)(H,21,22)(H,23,24) Key: DEFVIWRASFVYLL-UHFFFAOYAF
SMILES O=C(O)CN(CC(=O)O)CCOCCOCCN(CC(=O)O)CC(=O)O
Properties
Chemical formula	C14H24N2O10
Molar mass	380.350 g·mol−1
Melting point	241 °C (466 °F; 514 K)
Acidity (pKa)	2.0, 2.68, 8.85, 9.43[1]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Y verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

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The pK_a for binding of calcium ions by tetrabasic EGTA is 11.00, but the protonated forms do not significantly contribute to binding, so at pH 7, the apparent pK_a becomes 6.91. See Qin et al. for an example of a pK_a calculation.^[4]

EGTA has also been used experimentally for the treatment of animals with cerium poisoning and for the separation of thorium from the mineral monazite. EGTA is used as a compound in elution buffer in the protein purification technique known as tandem affinity purification, in which recombinant fusion proteins are bound to calmodulin beads and eluted out by adding EGTA.

EGTA is often employed in dentistry and endodontics for the removal of the smear layer.

• EDTA
• BAPTA